Smoke smell coming from rear left wheel after mechanic adjusted it. Please help.?

Question

I went into Pep Boys to get my front rotors and brake pads replaced. (the rear brakes were done about a year before by a different company) They told me they also adjusted the rear wheels. After driving a mile or so I always smell smoke coming from the left rear wheel. None of the other wheels smell like smoke. This problem wasn't happening before I visited Pep Boys.

What could it be? The mechanic I called said it was normal and to just drive it awhile. I got ceramic brakes for the front by the way. Could the mechanic have sabotaged me so I'd have to pay them more later? All that cost me $220. Can't afford much more.

My van's a 2000 dodge caravan. Please help. Thank you.

How much for parts for the left rear brake pad then? Shouldn't they replace the right rear too to make it even? Thanks for the answers, that helps a lot.

Answer 1

Smoking brakes NORMAL????

Take it back. He over adjusted the brake shoe "play".

If your brakes got as hot as you say, they may need to be replace due to heat damage.
Argue with them, and don't trust everything you hear from them.

Offer to pay for the parts, but NOT the labor.
They screwed up!

ADDED:
Wow, some of the other answerers don't have a clue.....

Drum brakes should NEVER rub on the brake drum unless you apply the brakes, or push down the parking brake pedal.

Answer 2

The rear brake shoes have been adjusted too tight and it is dragging and costing you gas mileage, and wear on the shoes, plus it is generating a lot of heat and may wind up destroying your drums.

Take the car back and tell them what is happening, don't delay on this, you need to get it back to them as soon as possible. If you wait, then they will deny everything and say it was working when you left the shop.

Good luck.

Answer 3

well the only thing i can say is that he has adjusted them up too tight on one side...they shoud be adjusted up just enough so that the brake can be heard making contact with the drum.
there is no other reason it should smell...other than a leaking whell cylinder....but you would have brake fluid loss if that was the case. it will quit in a few days though....as it wears the brake quickly past the "tightness". you might have heat cracks in the brake shoe though. dont be afraid to take it back...its not right...right? just ask him to back it off or take the wheel off and check it.

Answer 4

the proper way to adjust drum brakes is to jack up that wheel. Inside the wheel is the star adjuster. Take up until you feel a drag while spinning wheel then back off until it is free. Heat from there means either a brake dragging or a wheel bearing.

Answer 5

Your rear brakes adjust automatically, so anything Pep Boys did to them is basically sabotage, in my view. All these chain stores are a bunch of screwups anyway. No real mechanic would work at such a place.

Answer 6

the smell should go away after a few days of driving. the mechanic adjusted the brakes up. one thing you need to watch for is how the van stops on wet and slick roads. if it's not adjusted right that's when a problem if there is one will show up. good luck

Answer 7

If your steering didnt pull to a side, when your doing 15- 20 mph leave the wheel and brake, but watch the wheel if it turns then they havent adjust it properly. In that case, take your car to them and make them to fix it for you. ( don't give them an option, of cource it goes a way after it wears out! )

Answer 8

i think the reason for the smoke smell is that the handbrake is maynot be closed fully
or
the mechanic might got it to tight

Answer 9

well what i would do is put a fire cracker under the hood if the car doesnt catch fire do it again wouldnt you rather set the car on fire yourself instead of waiting for it to happen

Answer 10

THE BRAKE LINING IS TOO TIGHT,TAKE IT BACK AND MAKE THEM REPLACE THEM.